650B slack steel hardtail options

Hoping for a light-weight 67/68 steel trail slayer, ideally based around a 130-150 fork. Kona Explosif seems like a good match but is based around 120mm.. Chromag Samurai 65 looks like an ideal build but at $1400 it's pushing into custom frame/ti territory. Any other bikes I should be considering? happy to look at custom builders as well..

I demoed the Jamis Dakar 650b Drangon last week. I had a blast on it. I would buy one if i didnt just order a nimble 9 frame from canfeild bros. It is based on a 120mm fork though, but im sure you could throw a 140mm and slack it out a bit more.

Ps. word from our Jamis rep is 2014 dragon 650b is with a 12mm rear through axle and routing for dropper post. Might be worth to wait a few months.

Have tried both an Evil Sovereign and a Transition TransAm with 650B's and the little added BB-height was a none issue for me. Plus, they are nice frames on their own as well, and ride great with long-ish forks.

Transition transam accepts 650b hoops and would be right at that ht angle with a 150mm fork. Outstanding riding frame.

The new 2014 transition trans am is specifically built around the 650b platform. As soon as they are available that will be my new hardtail! Plus they made it a bit more slacker as well. Gonna be a killer 650b.rumours on new Bikes 2014. SEE POST 64

The two newest models (2013-14) of the SOMA b-side are slack (68), high quality steel (tange prestige tubing), and designed for 650b. I think you can run up to 140 as well with no problems. I've also heard that one can squeeze 29er rims and cross tires in for a quick monstercross/commuter/cross bike. Seems like a decent platform. And the frame is around $480.